Teen Pushed Into Traffic Wakes Up From Coma 9 Months Later

A 16-year-old California kid who was pushed into oncoming traffic nine months earlier has emerged from a coma.

According to Angel Figueroa's family, he is currently relearning how to do basic functions like moving his legs and opening his eyes after the February incident and traumatic brain injury.

GoFundMe

"Not quite responding or communicating with us but just moving little movements give us a sign of hope you know," Figueroa's aunt Belki Brizuela told KNBC. "There's hope that he's going to come out of this."

A "group of young people" pushed Figueroa into the path of a white Tesla on February 28. The police withheld Figueroa's identity until his father revealed it to KTTV in March.

Facebook

According to the Hemet Police Department, Figueroa was skating down Stetson Avenue when he was shoved, and "a brief altercation ensued." According to the report, Figueroa's skateboard was taken, and "a group of young people fled the scene following this incident."

"I couldn't recognize him he was so swollen. His head was really big. He had so many scars," Brizuela told KNBC. "And bruises everywhere, and cuts... I can't wrap my mind around it. Why? You know, what was the reason to do that you know?"

According to Brizuela, the teen who pushed her nephew received a "slap on the wrist" and a "joke" sentence of six months in juvenile court and three months of house arrest. A request for a response from PEOPLE was not immediately answered by Hemet Police.

Figueroa, on the other hand, required surgery to remove a part of his skull, according to his aunt. Brizuela stated that he is currently residing in an Orange County rehabilitation center.

Since then, the teen's aunt has started a GoFundMe to pay for his medical expenses with the ultimate goal of "bringing Angel home" and obtaining a van for him to use in the future. Figueroa's family has achieved $32,000 of their $35,000 goal five days after going online.

"Teach your kids, like, it is not fun and games, you know? It's not a joke when you go out with your friends," Brizuela told KABC. "Every decision you make there are consequences."